Chapter 24: Confusing (2)
Chapter 23 – Confusing (2)
The sun hanging over the western hills slowly set.
Ho Deok-chang, the head instructor of the second-year cadets, stood by the window and quietly stared at the sunset that dyed the sky red.
The middle-aged man, whose thick eyebrows and angular jaw stood out exceptionally, finally opened his mouth.
“So, what you are saying is… in short, there is nothing new.”
“Well, pretty much.”
Sitting at the table, Bi Ryang shrugged and replied.
Ho Deok-chang asked, still looking only at the sky.
“Was there nothing particularly strange?”
“There was none. He also said that Yun Jong-seung taught him the Red Lotus Palm himself.”
“Teaching a family’s secret art so easily?”
“Well, they were just immature little kids back then. And it is a bit much to describe a martial art of that level as a ‘secret art.’ To put it bluntly, isn’t it at a level that anyone could master after staying as a guest at the Mount Huang Yun Clan for just three or four months?”
“That is only true for born geniuses like you.”
“Here you go again. I am telling you, I am not a genius. Just someone with slightly excellent senses? Well, around that much? A real genius is someone like Jin Cheon-rang.”
Ho Deok-chang flinched slightly.
“Jin Cheon-rang. Do you think the Great Killing Star is a genius?”
“Of course. He was a genius of the century. Someone who had never even properly learned martial arts made a fool of the Martial Alliance for a very long time, did he not?”
“An interesting expression. However, your remarks seem somewhat dangerous. Especially as an instructor.”
“Sigh, if being an instructor is a job where you cannot even speak freely, I would rather quit.”
As Bi Ryang reacted in a consistently casual and careless manner, Ho Deok-chang clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘Why did it have to be someone like him…’
He was quite displeased with the dean who had brought in Bi Ryang as an instructor.
But what could he do?
The authority to appoint instructors belonged primarily to the dean, so he had no choice but to watch for now.
If it really did not work out, he could ask the chancellor to handle it directly.
‘I would rather this guy cause a major accident.’
If so, there would be plenty of justification to dismiss him.
As Ho Deok-chang let out a soft sigh and turned around, did Bi Ryang not casually rest his legs on top of the table?
It was a posture that was nothing short of arrogant.
Ho Deok-chang frowned overtly, but Bi Ryang did not care at all.
“My turn to ask a question.”
“What is it?”
“Why do you care so much about Namgung Cheon?”
“You cannot be unaware that the child is the flesh and blood of the Great Killing Star, right?”
“I know. Just for that reason?”
“Did you not say it with your own mouth? How much the Great Killing Star embarrassed the Martial Alliance all this time. Since he is the sole bloodline of such a person, we have no choice but to keep a close eye on him.”
“Is it something like guilt by association? Holding the child accountable for the father’s sins, or something like that…”
“That expression is unpleasant to hear.”
“Or… is there something shameful about Jin Cheon-rang’s death?”
“You!”
Ultimately, Ho Deok-chang could not hold back and shouted out.
He spat out words in a stiff, halting voice.
“Does your remark just now mean you distrust the Alliance?”
“Oh, of course not. It is just a reasonable suspicion. Jin Cheon-rang is already dead, so isn’t it a bit strange to observe his illegitimate child to this extent? It is as if they did something terrible to the father and are now trembling in fear that the child might seek revenge…”
“Stop it. You are crossing the line.”
“Oh, sorry. I admit it this time.”
“The current Jianghu is enjoying an era of unprecedented peace in history. Furthermore, the corruption of high-ranking officials is at its lowest level since records began. This was possible because the high-ranking members of the Alliance kept up their thorough surveillance without letting their guard down for a single moment. Watching Namgung Cheon is merely a part of that.”
Clap, clap, clap…!
As Bi Ryang clapped, Ho Deok-chang clenched his molars tightly.
‘This bastard… since earlier…!’
Bi Ryang stood up from his seat.
“I understood your moving words very well. Please tell those high-ranking figures to continue protecting the Jianghu well in the future.”
“You should work on acquiring more qualifications as an instructor.”
“I will try.”
Bi Ryang flashed his usual thoughtless smile.
While Ho Deok-chang stared at him silently, Bi Ryang, who was about to leave the room, suddenly turned around.
“By the way…”
“What is it?”
“Well, peace in the Jianghu, rooting out corruption. They are all good, but…”
“…?”
“Somehow, I ended up as the instructor in charge of the Blue Dragon Class cadets, right?”
“So?”
“If anyone touches my innocent cadets… whoever it is, I have no intention of forgiving them.”
“…!”
In that instant, Ho Deok-chang froze stiff and swallowed hard.
Although it was a very brief moment, it was because Bi Ryang’s gaze felt as cold as a raging northern wind and snow.
An immense pressure that was hard to describe.
It was not an energy that could be felt directly like killing intent or fighting spirit, but rather an aura that strangely emanated around Bi Ryang.
Of course, immediately afterward, his signature carefree smile blew away that heavy pressure like a lie.
“Haha. How is it? With this level of determination, would you say I have the qualifications of an instructor in my own way?”
“…Splendid.”
“Then, I shall take my leave!”
As Bi Ryang left, Ho Deok-chang plopped down into his chair and let out a sigh.
‘Somehow… it is exhausting.’
* * *
Rain fell in Wuhan.
Listening to the sound of rain coming from outside the window, Namgung Cheon buried his nose in the bowl and slurped down the noodles.
Slurp! Slurp!
Immediately after, he picked up a king-sized dumpling with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth.
Chew, chew. Smack, smack.
‘It has been a while since I ate this, but it is indeed delicious. Noodles are definitely the best on a rainy day.’
Satisfied with Namgung Cheon’s reaction, the Ghost King approached with a broad grin.
“My lord, does the food suit your palate well?”
“Very good. At this rate, business should be quite good.”
“Hahaha! I may not look like it, but I have some skills.”
“I know. It is because I wanted to taste this that I told you to set up an eatery in Wuhan.”
“How did you know about my cooking skills?”
“Well, I heard it from my father.”
“I see. By the way, about that tribute…”
“Why? Does it weigh on your conscience because you feel like you are paying too little? There is no need for that between us. Well, since I invested generously when you guys were penniless, it makes sense for you to think that way, but…”
“Um, my lord… that is not it… If only you could reduce the tribute a little…”
Clack.
Namgung Cheon stopped eating, set down his chopsticks, and turned serious.
“Let’s take down the plaque. And pay back all the investment money immediately…”
“Oh dear, why are you being like this? Haha! It is a jo-joke, kuhahaha!”
“Right?”
“Of course! For our lord, who invested generously in us when we were penniless, fifty percent is barely enough.”
“Indeed. I think so too. Then should we raise it to sixty percent?”
“M-My lord… that is a bit…!”
“I was joking too.”
“Kuhahaha! As expected, my lord is also good at joking!”
As the Ghost King laughed foolishly, Namgung Cheon laughed along.
Then, a question suddenly crossed his mind.
“By the way, what kind of restaurant name is ‘Ghost King Eatery’?”
“They say even a ghost that died after eating well has a good complexion, do they not? I named it Ghost King Eatery to mean that if someone dies after eating my food, their complexion will be so good that they will become the king of ghosts.”
“Well, you did make a decent effort to make it fit.”
“I have many other reasons in mind besides that. For example, if two people eat and one dies, they become a ghost and the king’s…”
“Forget it. Why does everyone have to die while eating? How is anyone supposed to eat in peace like that?”
“S-Should I change it?”
“Replacing the plaque now costs money. Leave it. More importantly, what happened with what I asked you to look into?”
From here on was the main business.
Namgung Cheon had made the martial artists of the Ghost King Stronghold set up an eatery in Wuhan near the Dragon Heaven Academy.
It was convenient to utilize their intelligence network by dropping in frequently like this, and it was also easy to fill his stomach for free.
The Ghost King looked around for no reason and lowered his voice.
“To report the facts we have secretly investigated, that instructor’s real name is Bi Ryang, and his age is thirty-two. His appearance is handsome enough to strike the heartstrings of many women, and his unique white hair suits him well…”
Smack!
Grabbing the back of his head, the Ghost King made a crying face.
“Kugh! Wh-Why did you do that?”
“Don’t build up the atmosphere to babble about things everyone already knows, and get to the main point.”
“Ah… yes. It turns out that guy rose to the rank of a peak expert before even turning twenty, and had a history of being called a rising star of the Martial World.”
“Ho?”
“Afterward, he joined the Martial Alliance’s Gale Squad and performed active service, repeatedly receiving ultra-fast promotions, and after passing through the Heavenly Net Corps and the Blue Wave Corps, he rose to the position of Iron Blood Captain. I hear his age at that time was a mere twenty-five, so doesn’t that say it all?”
“Iron Blood Captain at twenty-five… That is amazing.”
“Yes, I have never seen a fellow like this either.”
The Ghost King shook his head.
And for good reason, as the Iron Blood Squad could be considered the representative strike force of the Martial Alliance.
Which meant that in one’s twenties, just becoming an Iron Blood member brought immense recognition, so rising to squad leader at only twenty-five years old meant he was truly a remarkable genius.
“What about after that?”
“That is where it gets a bit strange.”
“What is?”
“He was active as the Iron Blood Captain for exactly one year, and he indeed established brilliant achievements multiple times. However, after that one year, the information suddenly cut off completely.”
“He did not continue to be active as the Iron Blood Captain?”
“Yes. From the age of twenty-six, he was suddenly banished to a minor local post.”
“Hmm. For how long?”
“About two years.”
“And then?”
“He returned to the Martial Alliance headquarters and joined various organizations, but he caused trouble at every turn and kept getting demoted.”
What kind of case was this?
Did a man praised as a rising star of the Jianghu suddenly get banished to a minor post for two years, only to return as a troublemaker?
This fellow was truly interesting.
“Keep telling me.”
“Yes, he was demoted like that all the way down, ending up as an ordinary martial artist in the lowest organization of the Martial Alliance.”
“What kind of trouble did he cause?”
“Whether he had a rebellious streak, it was mostly things like insubordination.”
“I somehow like that. Continue.”
“Well, from here on, it is as you know. He got fired even from the lowest organization, fooled around idly, and this time entered the Dragon Heaven Academy as an instructor.”
“Hmm, I see. You dug it up quite thoroughly. Though there are some parts that leave something to be desired.”
“Um, so about that. Since we pried into information through various dark channels, a considerable amount of money was spent without realizing it. If only we could somehow do something about the first month’s tribute…”
Indeed. It was fully understandable.
After all, in the Jianghu, information was also money.
To gather this much information, the expenses must have been quite large.
Namgung Cheon nodded his head.
“Fine, I will lower the first month’s tribute to forty percent.”
“Yes? Not a waiver?”
“Huh? You want to take down the plaque?”
“No. I will pay forty percent. Thank you for your consideration.”
“Don’t mention it.”
I was this conscientious.
I even take into consideration all the inner circumstances of my subordinates. I do not know if I will end up a beggar at this rate.
It was just when the Ghost King was about to return to the kitchen while muttering intense prayers of gratitude.
Did the front door not fling open wide as a group of cadets poured in?
Their clothes were damp and wet, as if they had all been caught in the rain.
The Ghost King and his subordinates… no, should they be called the Ghost King and the waiters now?
It seemed it would be convenient to call them Ghost Servers to avoid confusion.
In any case, they simultaneously brightened up and shouted.
“Welcome!”
The Ghost King Eatery became busy with the rare jack-pot customers.
“Oh my, you got caught in a lot of rain.”
“I will bring you something to wipe off with!”
“Please take a seat over here!”
However, the cadets’ reactions were somehow lukewarm.
Every single one of them glanced at Namgung Cheon, then closely packed the seats as if by agreement, creating a thoroughly hostile atmosphere.
Whether they noticed such a strange flow or not, the Ghost Servers were busy carrying spoons, chopsticks, water bottles, and towels without rest.
And finally,
Bang!
Four people appeared as they roughly opened the door.
Jo Gang-min, Gwak Cheol-ju, Song Won-gyo, and Baekli Hyang.
As they appeared, the cadets who had arrived first stared at Namgung Cheon with fishy smiles on their faces.
Namgung Cheon let out a shallow sigh.
He thought they had been quiet for a while, and now this.
“Namgung Cheon, were you here?”
Song Won-gyo approached with a sneer.
Namgung Cheon set down his chopsticks and asked.
“You came because you were curious if it is really possible to get beaten to dust on a rainy day, right?”